The "making" of the White Star Line must always remain an interesting incident in the history of our commerce. In the 'sixties the Atlantic trade was in the hands of the Cunard, the Inman, the National, and the Guion Companies. At this time the Bibby line of Mediterranean steamers had been most successful. One of the principal owners in these steamers was Mr. Schwabe, whose nephew, Mr. Wolff, had just started in business as a shipbuilder in Belfast, in partnership with Mr. Harland. Mr. T. H. Ismay had recently formed a partnership with Mr. William Imrie, and had taken over the business of the White Star Line, then engaged in owning sailing ships employed in the Australian trade. The story at the time was that during a game of billiards at Mr. Schwabe's house, in West Derby, Mr. Schwabe proposed to Mr. Imrie that his firm should start another line of steamers to New York, adopting as their type the models which had proved so very profitable in the Mediterranean trade, and offered if they were built by Messrs. Harland and Wolff to find the greater part of the capital. The scheme thus inaugurated quickly took shape. Mr. G. H. Fletcher associated himself with the project, and the first White Star steamer, the "Oceanic," was built, followed quickly by the "Celtic," "Baltic," "Germanic," and "Britannic." The steamers were the first vessels constructed with their cabin accommodation amidships, where there is the least motion and vibration. This proved a very attractive feature. Mr. Ismay also took a personal interest in studying the comfort of the travellers by his line, which quickly became very popular. Mr. Ismay lived to see the début of his masterpiece, the "Oceanic," the second of this name, but had passed away in 1899 before the White Star Line became a part of the great American steamship combine. MR. T. H. ISMAY. Mr. Ismay was a remarkable man. He was of a very retiring disposition, but had great strength of character, with an aptitude for organisation, he was able to select good men to assist him, and to obtain from them the best of their work. Mr. Ismay was one of the ablest men of my time. He declined all honours, and found his pleasure in surrounding himself with beautiful pictures and _objets d'art_ in his home at Dawpool, and he was not unmindful of others, for he founded the Seamen's Pension Fund, to which he was a large contributor.